30 Familial Bonds Strengthen

Everyone in the party continued their high spirits as we made our way to the adventurers guild. Our wallets were quite heavy, figuratively since it was all stored in rings, but we were mostly happy to have survived. They had thanked me multiple times throughout the journey back, and I had run out 'humble' words to deflect all the praise.

I mean they did slay a Night Stalker similar to the one of Legend, but I guess I did kill 9 of the 12 and a Wyvern to boot. Entering the guild hall everyone turned to look at us, and let off a cheer. We had sent Tuk with a letter telling of a short and not as detailed story of what happened besides that we were lucky to be alive. People congratulated us on our safe returns, before a receptionist approached us to escort us to Kaspian's office.

Once inside Kaspian immediately raised from his seat and shook each of hands giving a smile at having us return safely.

"It's good to see you all in one piece. Now tell me the full story." With that Mikail stepped forth.

"Since Rez would diminish his feats, I believe it's best for me to retell everything." This garnered chuckles from everyone in the room. It's not like I didn't like the praise, anybody likes to be thanked for doing something. It's just that I felt it was expected of me to keep them all alive, I'm a reincarnate after all. I should be strong enough to prevent the deaths of those around me, and especially after that first time I had redoubled my efforts.

Mikail recounted the tail of our dungeon dive, even mentioning how I prevented Clara from getting bit by the Bridesbane. I tried to interject saying that Krenshaw was the one who killed it, but he himself shot me down by saying it was my call out that alerted him to the creature.

When Mikail got to the big finish about the Night Stalker and all dragon cousins as well as serpent mana beasts, Kaspian's eyes went wide. It was expected for 1 strong mana beast to be at the end, but 12 mana beasts worthy of being the dungeon boss was unheard of. The Freezing Fang Nagas hadn't even been spotted in 20 years. Wyvern were fairly common, but only in the deeper reaches of the Beast Glades. He said we were lucky we fought in a cave because it's true lethality is from the skies, it's speed much faster than you would expect.

"I see, a truly harrowing experience. Though I feel I must apologize for Rez hiding his abilities, but I'm sure you can understand why he would. Lots of eyes would be on, lots of high ranking eyes, would be on him if they learned of his dual deviance. That's why I must ask each of you to promise not spread anything about his wind and sound capabilities." Kaspian looked at everyone in the room seriously, and surprisingly it was Krenshaw who spoke first.

"His secret is safe with me. I wish there was more I could do to repay him for keeping us all safe, especially Clara. If this is as much as I can do then I will do it." He looked to me and gave a meaningful nod that could almost be considered a bow, and I returned it. He had truly proved me wrong over this expedition. While he is a cocky, and arrogant noble he has the skill to back it up, and the humility to admit when he needed help.

Everyone else were quick to follow with agreements of their own, and then Kaspian spoke again.

"That makes things much simpler then. Now, let's discuss rewards. Everyone will receive a 1 rank, rank up. A->AA, AA->S. I'll have the receptionist prepare your cards to be ready before you leave. I'll need to speak to Rez and Mikail alone as they are the first S rank adventurers in the last 40 years. With S rank comes some different perks."

(Obviously I'm not sure if this is true. If there is any mention of another S rank adventurer besides Lances in the human kingdom let me know.)

"Though I'm sure compared to the spoils of the dungeon this isn't much, but the guild is giving you each 1000 gold for the mapping of the dungeon. Normally we would request a percentage of the spoils as usually, but as a form of hazard pay for the dungeon we will not be taking the cut." Everyone smiled at this as usually the guild gets 10% of the loot from the dungeon. He marks some notes on to a sheet of paper, and then looks back up at us.

"Alright, I must congratulate you all again. But now I need the room with just Mikail and Rez if you wouldn't mind." The rest nodded, and with a quick round of handshakes and hugs they departed leaving just me and Mikail.

"Now some of the perks of a S rank adventurer include no pay cuts from dives requested by the guild as they will usually be of the more dangerous variety. Stays at inns will be completely covered by the guild from now, and I wouldn't be surprised if people buy your drinks at bars if you flash your card. Sadly the other thing that must happen is your name as well as your known abilities will be sent to the King.

You may be contacted for guard positions and you have the right and authority as a S rank adventurer, but I must say it would be much safer than adventuring. Lastly your ranks also provide you with the same standing as a Noble and if you wanted you could request the lowest noble title and get some land to start your new lineage.

Obviously that comes with it's own tedium, but you could still request the land and home to be built without the noble title. If you don't want or need the land/house you can get a pick of an item from the royal treasury, however the king can deny an item if it's of too much importance to the kingdom.

That should be it, any questions?" He finally finished with a sigh and readjusted his glasses.

"I would like the land and house, though I don't want the title. If you could put out a notice for house keepers, maids, gardeners and all the things a house and land like that will need I would be most appreciative." Mikail said and Kaspian immediately started writing down on a sheet of paper, and flipped through a couple of others before rolling them up and binding them with string.

"Here, take this to the Helstea Manor and ask for Vincent Helstea. He will be able to get you set up with a property anywhere on or around Xyrus. Anything past Marlow town or Cam City will be redirected to the assistants of the king." Mikail gave a nod and exited the room, giving me a nod as well. Now it was just me and Kaspian.

"You can remove your mask now." I comply and remove it, taking the empty seat across from him. A gentle smile crossed his face and I mirrored it.

"I'm glad you came back Jaron. It would pain me as your instructor to see you not come back because the guild sent you to a death trap. I sincerely apologize for that." Kaspian said with genuine regret, but I just waved him off.

"It's what adventurers do. We knew that the whole place wasn't mapped out. I imagine it's part of the reason most of us agreed to go, for the intrigue of an unmapped dungeon." He responded with a nod and looked back down at his papers.

"I imagine you don't want or need a house and land, so do you plan to ask to visit the royal treasury?" He questioned while looking at me, curious as to what I would choose. I just hummed you myself and brought my hand to my chin as I thought about.

"Why not, it would be cool to see the castle and what all they have in the treasury. Though I'm not sure I'll find anything better than what I have." He nodded and glanced at my sword, but quickly pulled out another sheet of paper and began writing.

"This will be sent with your S rank confirmation to the king. I imagine it will be a few months before you're able to go, so you'll be able to do as you please until then." He said binding the paper and one of the papers he had written for Mikail together and placing it in a box on his desk.

"So what will you do now?" He asked as he leaned on to his desk with his hands steepled together.

"I'll probably stay home for a couple weeks before heading back out there. I still have a year and half before mother is making me attend Xyrus, might as well enjoy it." I say with a casual shrug, getting a short chuckle form Kaspian.

"Only 6 and a half and already experienced more dangers than most adults would in their entire lives." He smiled cheekily at me and I returned it, before he stood and I did as well.

"Well I look forward to seeing your future accomplishments." He said holding out his hand to shake, I gripped it and looked up at him.

"Thanks Mister Kas." I said with a smile and he smirked before ruffling my hair.

"Cheeky brat."

With that I left the office and met the receptionist where she gave me my new S rank adventurer card. It was a bright white card, I suppose to symbolize a white core mage as the peak of strength. I accepted and made my way home, I'm sure my family would love to hear about this story. Maybe I should just drop the Wyvern skull in the front yard, haha."

Arriving at the manor, I walk through the door without knocking and yell.

"Mom, Dad, Lilly I'm home!" The three of them came dashing around the corner from the kitchen and engulfed me in a hug. I basked in the warmth, but I could feel another pair of eyes on us. Looking I meet the eyes of Maeve and I get confused. What would she be doing here? Then it clicked.

I could feel my stomach drop, the only reason she could be here is if head mother… Sensing my plight I felt Tabitha grip me tighter, brushing my hair.

"What are you doing here Maeve?" My voice sounded stronger than it felt which I was glad for. She seemed nervous and sad with a bit of guilt, and she took a shuddering breath.

"The head mother passed this morning… She's… She's gone Jaron." I felt my family's grip on me tighten as I just stood there mouth wide open and tears stinging the corners of my eyes. I felt the first teardrop trickle down and the rest followed soon after. Maeve's own face contorted in sadness and I could see her tears starting to fall.

"I'm sorry Jaron. We couldn't make her better, we tried everything. I… I…" she kept muttering as the tears fell from her face, I broke free of my family's grip and wrapped Maeve into a hug. There's nothing she could have done and she's blaming herself. She drops to her knees wrapping her arms around me and burning her head in my chest as she sobbed. She had been the closest to the head mother after all, having lived there since she was a baby and learning to take over the orphanage from her.

I barely knew her 2 years and I though I was feeling pain, I could only imagine what Maeve is feeling.

"It's not fair Jaron, I'm not ready to takeover yet! There's still so much she didn't teach me yet!" She wailed into my chest and I just rubbed her hair with one hand and pat her back with the other. I didn't say anything I just stood there with her, my own tears continuing to flow. A few hours passed, with us still sitting there in the hallway before she calmed down. We had Gerald take her back to the orphanage, and I could see the pained look in his eyes as well.

The funeral was the next day, but it's a little different here. There's no religious official if you believe in that to lead them into the afterlife with fancy words. Here it was being buried around family and friends or being burned on pyre. Head mother had chosen the pyre as she didn't want to be confined to the ground, she wanted to drift along the winds.

The night seemed to last forever but also be too short, I could feel my stomach drop all over again as the sun peeked over the horizon. The maids helped me bathe and dress, I was just a robot throughout the ordeal. Sticking arms and legs through their holes while staring at the wall. My parents offered to hold the pyre here at the manor, but I knew head mother would rather it be done at the orphanage.

When we arrived we saw a line of people in various states of dress outside the orphanage. Some high quality clothes, some adventurer clothes and even peasant clothes. All walks of life came to the pyre of head mother. Maeve was at the door accepting the gifts from those who could afford one, and shaking the hands of everyone that entered.

We made our way to the backyard and it was filled with people in a circle around the pyre. It was just me mother, father and my sister as the Leywins felt out of place coming to her funeral which I respected. I felt an unmistakable feeling of growing closer to my parents, as if part of me had still been living and clinging to the orphanage all this time. I gripped their hand tightly in mine, and they gave me sad smiles. Though the smiles felt warm, their love warmed me even know as I say goodbye to my first mother.

Even if only for 2 years she showed me more love than any 'parent or guardian' from my last life. Rocking me when I had night terrors about the abuse from my last life. Feeding and clothing me, holding me even while teaching the other kids. Never once resorting to violence to get her point across like my foster parents had. A warm and loving home for 2 years, 2 great years.

I looked at all the people she effected in her lifetime. Butchers, beggars, students of the academy, adventurers, and many more. Old and young were brought here for one person. I hope that when I die I can have done something to warrant even half these people.

The orphanage kids started with a song that head mother had taught them before she fell ill, and it being a popular one everyone joined in. Maeve was the one to light the fire and I could see her holding back her tears from here. She wanted to look strong and capable in front of the other children.

Mary was standing next to rest of the kids and I could see the tears streaming down her face, which didn't surprise me as she had been there taking care of head mother through the entire sickness. Something that did surprise me though is that she was close to forming a mana core, and it gave the same feeling as Clara's did. Seems the orphanage would be in good hands in the coming years, i thought as I smiled to myself.

The ceremony ended faster than I wanted to, but I was strangely drained after even though it was only mid day. Once back in the carriage i was sat between mom and dad, and I dozed off. I didn't wake up for a few hours where I found myself laying on the couch with my head on mom's lap as she caressed my hair.

I could feel my own feelings to them growing stronger, and today had proved that it was the right thing. I felt warm and like was in the right place, I know longer felt in the way like I had for most of my past life. They had given me as much love if not more than head mother, but I think some small part of me always felt they had an ulterior motive. I closed my eyes again and just enjoyed the calm moment with my mother.

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Author's Note

Should be the last sappy sad chapter at least for a while. Also I'm sure most of you saw this coming, I had thought to just have her pass before his dungeon dive journey when he first visited her, but decided to save it. Originally I had planned for her death to leave more of an impact on Jaron, but I think his new family fills the hole that Meredith left. Which is why named the chapter what I did.

Next chapter will have a short time skip, and he will give the presents he received before leaving on his final year in the beast glades. Meaning He'll be back in the middle of February which is when Arthur returned since he came back 3 months before his birthday.

I only have one story to tell for the last year, so it will hopefully be at least 2 chapters worth, but if it's only one I apologize.

Thanks for reading.

-SocioPhobia